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THONGCHAI MOVES UP TO TIED SEVENTH AT MAYBANK CHAMPIONSHIP MALAYSIA

Thai veteran star Thongchai Jaidee rued a cold putter after a second round of two-under-par 69 left him in tied seventh place at the halfway stage of the inaugural Maybank Championship Malaysia on Friday.

Thongchai, a triple Asian Tour number one, carded three birdies against a lone bogey at the resplendent Royal Selangor Golf Club where his two-day score of seven-under-par 135 was some six shots behind leader Nathan Holman of Australia.

Countryman Thaworn Wiratchant fired a fine 67 to move up to tied ninth place, one back of Thongchai while newly-wed Kiradech Aphibarnrat missed the halfway cut by two strokes following a level par 71.

Thongchai, the world number 33, is chasing a third win in Malaysia but knows he must do better with his flat stick.

“I played great but my putting was not as good as yesterday. I hit a lot of fairways and a lot of good chances but my putting was not great. It was difficult to read the greens,” said the 46-year-old.

With reigning Australian PGA champion Holman in control at the Maybank Championship Malaysia with his two day score of 129, Thongchai said he must play catch-up in hope of lifting a first title in 2016.

“I’m still in it with a chance with two more days to go. I’ll try to play my best on the weekend. You have to hit the fairways and hit a lot of greens. The putting will be a huge challenge here,” said the 13-time Asian Tour winner.

“I was in a very good group (Danny Willett & Louis Oosthuizen today). They are good players and I enjoy playing with them. I’m performing very well but I need to plan a bit better on the course and improve on my putting.”